Verrückt, the world's tallest water slide, reaches higher than …
Verrückt, the world's tallest water slide, reaches higher than many of the most notable landmarks on Earth.
Conceptualized in November 2012 by Jeff Henry, construction comm…
Conceptualized in November 2012 by Jeff Henry, construction commenced in mid-2013. Shown here is a view down the hill from what would become the base of Verrückt.
Steel columns made from former railroad tanks were cut and refit…
Steel columns made from former railroad tanks were cut and refitted to form the water slide's tower.
Portions of Tower 1 are loaded onto a truck and headed to Kansas…
Portions of Tower 1 are loaded onto a truck and headed to Kansas.
The first section of the steel tower, weighing 35,000 pounds, is…
The first section of the steel tower, weighing 35,000 pounds, is lifted to be set in place.
Crews begin the process of bolting sections 1 and 2 together.
The spline of Verruckt is erected.
A look at the fiberglass arch before its placed atop what eventu…
A look at the fiberglass arch before its placed atop what eventually would be named the world's tallest water slide on April 25.
More fiberglass sections are lifted into place and attached to t…
More fiberglass sections are lifted into place and attached to the spline.
Portions of the 264 steps leading up to the top platform are put…
Portions of the 264 steps leading up to the top platform are put in place.
The construction crew reaches another milestone when it places t…
The construction crew reaches another milestone when it places the platform on top.
A look at the conveyor belt that will lift the four-person rafts…
A look at the conveyor belt that will lift the four-person rafts to the top of the slide.
While the former tallest water slide in the world, Kilimanjaro i…
While the former tallest water slide in the world, Kilimanjaro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, relies on a hill for the bulk of its height, Verrückt's height comes from concrete and steel.
It’s official. Schlitterbahn Waterparks & Resorts’ Verrückt is the world’s tallest water slide.
Thanks to leaks of photos and video footage, the new attraction has been making headlines for months and finally will make its public debut May 23. But during a ceremony April 25, the slide was entered into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Measuring 168 feet, 7 inches high, Verrückt dethroned the Kilimanjaro slide in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by just 4 feet, 10 inches.
The process to determine the exact height of the slide is a precise one involving lasers and special surveying tools, according to reports. Third-party witnesses also were on hand to verify the measuring process.
The true testament, however, will come from patrons who answer the question #RUInsane and take the plunge in the four-person raft down the extreme attraction.
The construction process will be featured in Travel Channel’s one-hour season premiere of “Xtreme Waterparks,” which airs on Sunday, June 29.
Until then, however, here’s a look at some construction images that take us from the beginning of the dig to the final measuring ceremony. Additional photos and videos also are available at schlitterbahnnews.com and schlitterblog.com.
Erin Ansley is a frequent freelancer for Pool and Spa News and Aquatics International. She has been a professional journalist since 2001. When not sleuthing the web for the latest news or calling on sources in the construction industry for the inside scoop, Erin can be found surfing waves along the California coast, challenging her athletic limits in her favorite CrossFit box, playing drums with her indie rock band, and spending time with her daughter and husband.
